England's Pearce banking on Carrow Road support

Norwich City FC's Carrow Road has been a happy hunting ground for England in recent years and coach Stuart Pearce expects another uplifting atmosphere as his side look to make home advantage count in Friday's UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off first leg against Serbia.

After successfully negotiating their way through the qualifying round as Group 8 winners, England will need to be at their best to overcome a Serbia team that topped Group 4 and boast an impressive pedigree, having reached the final in 2007.

The choice of venue should help, according to Pearce. "It's a passionate area for football, they love their team and they also love England, so they always give us great support. We have always been welcomed by the club and the fans in this neck of the woods," said Pearce, whose side have given the Carrow Road crowd two consecutive victories to cheer, edging out Romania 2-1 at this juncture two years ago, after condemning Slovakia to a 5-1 defeat en route to the 2007 finals. "We hope that successful run continues on Friday," added the 50-year-old.

Pearce also has fond memories of visiting Norwich as a player with Nottingham Forest FC and other clubs. "Norwich City always had a good football ethic and an exceptional playing surface," said the former England full-back, whose league career spanned three decades. "It was a pretty passionate place to come and play, but never hostile. The fans come to support their team and make a great atmosphere.

"This is somewhere the Under-21 side have always enjoyed playing and I'm delighted we're going back," he said. Among Pearce's fresh-faced ranks are Liverpool FC defender Jack Robinson, 19, who could make his U21 debut alongside team-mate Raheem Sterling, two years his junior. Jonjo Shelvey misses out, though, after being summoned to the senior squad for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland.

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